Books we keep on rereading
I was surprised at just how accurate I found the following list of Most Reread Books, compiled by Costa, a UK coffee shop chain. Out of the top 20, I've read 11 once and out of that 11, I've read 5 of them more than once.
THE TOP 20 MOST REVISITED READS:
1. The Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling
2. Lord of the Rings Trilogy by JRR Tolkien
3. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
4. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
6. 1984 by George Orwell
7. Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
8. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
9. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
10. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
11. Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson
12. To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee
13. Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews
14. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
15. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
16. The Bible
17. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
18. Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding
19. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
20. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Booktrade.info provided some interesting statistics and commentary from the press release provided by Costa:
London, 9th November 2007: New research released today by Costa, the UK's fastest growing coffee chain, reveals that 77% of UK readers have enjoyed a book* so much the first time that they've gone back to read it again.
The research shows that well over a quarter (29%) of re-readers revisit a book at least twice, 27% three times and 12% four times. Incredibly, almost a fifth (17%) have re-read a favourite tome more than five times.
The results form part of a research project, commissioned to mark the 2007 Costa Book Awards, which looked into the reading habits of the UK population.
So why do we keep going back to our favourites? 59% of readers go back to a book because it's a fantastic story of which they never tire. 34% of people find once is just never enough as they derive something new with each re-read. 19% say they find re-reading a familiar book comforting and 18% claim it cheers them up. For 15% it's because they relate to the characters and a discerning 8% believe that they haven't read anything as good since their old favourite.
The 6-book Narnia Chronicles I've read 4 times, and speaking of which, the first trailer for Prince Caspian is now online. Of course, you can expect it to be posted here with commentary soon as part of the regular Trailer Tuesday feature.
Again, if you're looking for a meaningful gift for someone this Christmas, any one of these books / book series would be a fantastic present under the Christmas tree come the morning of 25 December.
THE TOP 20 MOST REVISITED READS:
1. The Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling
2. Lord of the Rings Trilogy by JRR Tolkien
3. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
4. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
6. 1984 by George Orwell
7. Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
8. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
9. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
10. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
11. Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson
12. To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee
13. Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews
14. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
15. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
16. The Bible
17. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
18. Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding
19. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
20. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Booktrade.info provided some interesting statistics and commentary from the press release provided by Costa:
London, 9th November 2007: New research released today by Costa, the UK's fastest growing coffee chain, reveals that 77% of UK readers have enjoyed a book* so much the first time that they've gone back to read it again.
The research shows that well over a quarter (29%) of re-readers revisit a book at least twice, 27% three times and 12% four times. Incredibly, almost a fifth (17%) have re-read a favourite tome more than five times.
The results form part of a research project, commissioned to mark the 2007 Costa Book Awards, which looked into the reading habits of the UK population.
So why do we keep going back to our favourites? 59% of readers go back to a book because it's a fantastic story of which they never tire. 34% of people find once is just never enough as they derive something new with each re-read. 19% say they find re-reading a familiar book comforting and 18% claim it cheers them up. For 15% it's because they relate to the characters and a discerning 8% believe that they haven't read anything as good since their old favourite.
The 6-book Narnia Chronicles I've read 4 times, and speaking of which, the first trailer for Prince Caspian is now online. Of course, you can expect it to be posted here with commentary soon as part of the regular Trailer Tuesday feature.
Again, if you're looking for a meaningful gift for someone this Christmas, any one of these books / book series would be a fantastic present under the Christmas tree come the morning of 25 December.
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